Gate-latch



(No Model.) W. L. STOVALL.

GATE LATGH. No. 290,717. Patented Dec. 25, 1883.

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7 v Wy A ttorneyr TArns WASHINGTON L. STOVALL, OF WINONA, MISSISSIPPI.

GATE-LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,717,.dated IDecember 25, 1883.

Application filed August 1, 1883. No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VASHINGTON L. STO- VALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vinona, in the county of Montgomery and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and useful Gate-Latch, of whi 'h the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to gate-latches; and its object is to provide a latch possessing superior advantages in point of simplicity, inexpensiveness, durability, and general efficiency, whereby the latch can be easily adapted to the gate, and the latch-bar can be fed out or drawn in to accommodate the shrinkage of the timbers of the gate and lateral lean or displacement of the gate-posts.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved latch. 'Fig. 2 isalongitudinal sectional View of the same in position in the gate. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through the latchbar set-screw. Fig. 4. is a detail perspective view of the latch bar and handle.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a cylindrical casing, having exterior screwthreads B, by which it can be secured in a bore or perforation, C, in the end post, D, of the gate, a flange, E, being formed at the screwthreaded end, to provide for the engagement of a wrench in setting the casing. The casing is formed with a longitudinal bore or perforation, F, that is preferably square in crosssection, and is provided with an interior shoulder, G, near its rear end.

H ,is the latch-bolt, which is formed of a straight bar, which is preferably square in crosssection, to correspond to the end openings, I and J, of the casing, and is provided with a shoulder, K, near its head end. Alter the casing is set in position a coiled spring, L, is arranged around the bar H against the shoulder K, and the said bar is inserted through the perforation, when its ends will project therefrom, and the spring will come against the interior shoulder, G, and serve to force the head of the bolt from the casing and into engagement with the latch-plate on the gate-post. The rear projecting end of the bolt is provided with an operating -handle, M, having a square recess, N, into which works aset-screw, (),which engages any one of a ser es of serrations, P, formed on the four sides of the said projecting end of the bolt. By adjusting this end of the bolt in the recess N, and securing it in adjusted position by means of the setscrew, the bolt-bar can be fed from the front end of the casing to take up any shrinkage of the timbers of the gate or to provide for lateral displacement of the gate-post, whereby positive engagement of the latch-bar with the latch-plate on the gate-post is secured.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood and appreciated. By removing the set-screw O,the parts comprising the latch can be readily separated, and by reason of having the bolt square in cross-section it can be turned in position until its four sides have been utilized. It will thus be seen that the latch will be very durable, and its parts are notliableto'breakage or displacement.

I claim as my invention- As an improvement in gate-latches,the combination, with the casing, of the spring-actuated bolt-bar, having a square end projecting from the rear end of the casing, and formed with transverse serrations extending the full width of all four its sides, the handle-barhaving a corresponding recess receiving said end, and formed with a perforation in one side of this recess, and adapted to be adjusted longitudinally on said end against the rear end of the casing, to regulate the tension of spring and play of bolt-bar, and a set-screw working against one ofthe serrations on the sides of bar, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own 1 have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WVASHINGTON L. STOVALL.

Witnesses:

C. FASER, T. S. SHIPMAN. 

